Leopard print is back, and this time it’s had a modern makeover

For many, this EastEnders plotline development will have brought about as much excitement as the words routine root-canal filling.

Not me, I was hooked.

Along with an en-masse bar brawl, two fake deaths, a loan shark, a cash scam, a Walford’s Got Talent show and a dodgy meat raffle, Slater’s explosive return to our TV screens brought with it her best- known trademarks: lashings of lip gloss and leopard print.

Kat Slater, EastEnders BBC Nicky Johnston

Only Phil Mitchell narrowly escaped the leopard-print-and-fake-tan dress code that accompanied the RIP benefit bash in the Queen Vic see fake death. It was clear Kat had not changed her spots and yet, in fashion circles, her signature print is an entirely reformed beast.

See Roberto Cavalli — Italy’s spiritual home of leopard print which has a new designer at its helm. A British minimalist, no less, who honed his clean-cut aesthetic at Calvin Klein and Jil Sander. Since his arrival, Paul Surridge has led a quiet revolution — one that seeks to translate Cavalli’s maximalist, sex-pot sizzle into the wardrobes of women who don’t spend their life rubbing perfectly bronzed shoulders with the super-rich in Saint-Tropez. Key to this is the reinvention of its signature animal print. “For me it’s almost the logo for the house,” says Surridge. “The most important thing is evolving it and making it feel modern and fresh.”

For next season this means classic leopard clashed with snakeskin and zebra as well as a shift in focus to daywear. But for Surridge, this new approach shouldn’t detract from the print’s potency. “You can change the colour, the scale, the texture, but the language of the print is always powerful. When you put it on it changes the way you feel. It changes your stature. You don’t put animal print on to sit in the corner.” Surridge also believes that fashion’s current infatuation with leopard can be linked to the #MeToo movement. “There’s the subliminal message that when people put animal print on they’re in charge. That’s why it’s so important at this moment in time. I think it’s a lot to do with women and designers reflecting on the power and place for women today.”

In September Victoria Beckham also gave the iconic leopard print coat a makeover, swapping faux fur for chenille jacquard, originally sourced in an old Venetian upholstery mill. It’s Beckham’s belief that this print’s appeal is both irresistible and universal — even among those who are not in the Kat Slater camp. “There’s something quite ironic about leopard print,” she said, ahead of her show. “We had the whole collection in the studio and all the girls were gravitating towards the leopard. I think women just can’t help it.” Essentiel Antwerp printed dress £355 Clearly this trend has legs on the high street too. Hot picks include Essentiel Antwerp’s rainbow shirt dress and Topshop’s wrap pyjama shirt. Pyjama shirt, £39, Topshop Lip gloss optional.

Tiny Home With 100-Mile Desert Views – House of the Week

You don’t need to be a certifiable cowboy to appreciate this gentleman’s ranch about an hour outside of Santa Fe.Photos courtesy Marshall Elias Photography. The homeowners rounded up more than 1,000 acres of land in Villanueva, NM, and built a modern, 500-square-foot home of steel and glass to shelter them from the desert sun. The house incorporates contemporary touches, with an outdoor kitchen, skylight and large windows to let in the warm sunlight.Having a minimalist living space on a grand piece of land is almost poetic for a place deeply rooted in big views and an outdoor lifestyle.Provided by photographer. Photo from Zillow Porchlight Photo courtesy Marshall Elias Photography.

“When you come out to New Mexico and you’re in a place where you don’t see anything that’s man-made as far as the eye can see, it really clears your brain,” said Gary Bobolsky, the listing agent. “It’s just kind of a way to look at the world – the way you’re meant to be.””You don’t see anything that’s man-made as far as the eye can see.”Provided by photographer. Photo from Zillow orchlight Photo courtesy Marshall Elias Photography.The home has a modern feel, and the exterior is made entirely of steel, making it resistant to the elements, Bobolsky said. The interior features a fireplace for when the temperature dips at night. There’s also a full outdoor kitchen for al fresco dinners and stargazing at night.Provided by photographer. Photo from Zillow Porchlight Photo courtesy Marshall Elias Photography.

Hardwood floors anchor the bedroom while sliding glass doors provide bedside views of the desert landscape. A stone path meanders from the home to the Pecos River, where a private dock provides waterfront space for afternoon picnics or siestas in the sun.”The stars and the Milky Way are going to be out of this world at night. It’s so vast and the air is so clear.”Provided by photographer. Photo from Zillow Porchlight Photo courtesy Marshall Elias Photography.The property also includes a 4,000-square-foot shop, perfect for storing hay, rounding up horses, or keeping farming equipment safe from the elements.Provided by photographer. Photo from Zillow Porchlight Photo courtesy Marshall Elias Photography.

But it’s those nighttime views, Bobolsky said, that truly make this a retreat for modern-day cowboys looking to escape city life.”It’s in an area that’s so rural that the stars and the Milky Way are going to be out of this world at night,” Bobolsky added. “It’s so vast and the air is so clear.””You’ve got 100-mile views,” he continued. “It’s kind of special like that.”Gary Bobolsky of Sotheby’s International Realty carries the listing.Video courtesy Marshall Elias Photography.